If only Rubio cared as much about policy as music

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) sat down for the inaugural “BuzzFeed Brew” at a Capitol Hill bar yesterday, fielding questions on a wide variety of topics. Rubio’s opinions on music seemed especially well thought out – the far-right senator prefers Biggie to Tupac, knows Pitbull’s real name, and considers Jay-Z the “gold standard” in hip hop.

Rubio seemed less conversant on areas of public policy.

On the Violence Against Women Act, for example, the Republican made it seem as if he supports the measure, asking rhetorically, “Who’s for violence against women?” What Rubio neglected to mention is that he voted against it last year, and was one of only eight senators to vote against the VAWA motion to proceed just this week.

On LGBT issues, Rubio said he’s “against discriminating against people” and doesn’t care “what people decide to do in privacy of their lives.” He then proceeded to argue that discriminating against same-sex couples in immigration policy is fine, dodge a question on ENDA, and overlook the fact that he’s been a long-time opponent of marriage equality.

But what really amazed me was Rubio’s approach to science – on football, he’s for it, but on climate, he’s against it.

The senator explained that he believes the scientific evidence that points to brain damage from concussions in the NFL. But on global warming, not so much.

“The fundamental question is whether man-made activity is what’s contributing most to it. And I understand that people say there’s a significant scientific consensus on that issue. But I’ve actually seen reasonable debate on that principle.”

I’m honestly not sure what that last sentence is supposed to mean. He’s “actually seen reasonable debate on that principle”? That doesn’t say anything. The science says the planet is facing a climate crisis, and Rubio knows the science says that, but’s “actually seen reasonable debate on that principle.”

I suppose that means he cares about science as it relates to athletes’ concussions, but has no use for science as it relates to Earth.